Deemed not to be

Even if you havent visited five-room deemed universities or read glossy college catalogues in fiction,here are statistics that say all. In the 35 years between 1956 and 1990,only 29 institutions were deemed-to-be universities by the Central government. In comparison,in the last five years,as many as 36 institutions have been granted this status. The spate of hasty approvals sparked accusations that Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal sought to address last year,when he ordered a review of all deemed-to-be universities. When this three-member review committee recommended 44 deemed-to-be universities for derecognition,the writing was on the wall. The Centres affidavit to the Supreme Court on Monday,accepting that recommendation,is both welcome and necessary.

Looking forward,the immediate concern is about the estimated two lakh students who will be affected by this step. In its affidavit,the Centre states that these below par institutions can continue as affiliated colleges to a state university,so that students can complete ongoing courses and exit with a degree. The HRD minister has also assured that no student will suffer. The task force preparing a plan to safeguard these students must be careful not to punish them for the follies of others. The other concern is for action on those responsible for this impasse. Who in the UGC

and the HRD ministry gave the approvals that are now shown to be faulty,with stipulations clearly not followed? It is important that a thorough inquiry names the guilty and that they are punished.

Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act permits the Centre to grant deemed-to-be university status for educational institutions on the recommendation of the UGC. The Centres decision to derecognise will hopefully result in the sparing use of this section. But to prevent its use altogether might be self-defeating. The original purpose of this provision was to reward well-performing colleges with the autonomy that university status brings. Top-class deemed universities like Birla Institute of Technology and Science,Pilani or Tata Institute of Social Sciences,Mumbai must be distinguished from more recent fly-by-night operators. It is hoped that the Centre accompanies this bold decision with a

comprehensive overhaul.